FCT residents set agenda for new FRSC Corps Marshal

Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory have set agenda for the acting Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Dauda Ali Biu.

They urged the FRSC to adopt technology, focus less on generating revenue and more on punishing offenders to be able to effectively regulate road users’ activities, reduce high rate of accidents and ensure safety on Nigerian roads.

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President Muhammadu Buhari had, on July 24, appointed Biu as acting Corps Marshal following the retirement of Boboye Oyeyemi.

A cross section of residents of the FCT advised Biu to speed up the process of deployment of appropriate technologies as obtainable in some developed climes to tame the increasing rate of road accidents and their attendant consequences.

Residents, who spoke to our reporter, charged Biu to, among other challenges, address the deplorable state of roads, the drivers’ reckless attitude and the inherent risk behaviour called ‘driving and phoning’.

Abdul Olaide, noted that while the UK imposes up to 200 Pound (about N136,0000) on any person caught driving and phoning, the FRSC “charges about N4,000 for the same offence”.

Maduabuchi Nwadike said he once had a pleasant encounter with the new FRSC boss “doing exemplary work in 2019”.

He said: “At an accident scene around the Julius Berger Bridge in Abuja, I saw a Road Safety vehicle coming; when it got to the scene, it stopped, and Biu came out to see the situation and he noticed the victim, a girl, was unconscious. He ordered his driver to assist and take the girl to the nearest hospital, Zankli Hospital in Mabushi.”

Another resident, Nasir Dambatta, expressed belief that Biu woud improve on the achievements of his predecessor to transform the Corps.

Biu, a seasoned road safety professional, who hails from Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State, joined the Corps in 1988 and rose to the rank of Deputy Corps Marshal before his recent elevation to Acting Corps Marshal.